Key retainer



Dec; 29, 1942. F, MMPHERSQN ETAL 2,306,970

' KEY RETAINER Filed March'ls, 1941 Patented Dec. 29, 1942 OFFICE 2,306,970 KEY RETAINER Floyd MacPher sonand Carl G. Gunderson,

Stevens Point, Wis.

Application March 15, 1941, Serial No. 383,609-

1 Claim. (01. 70-456) Our invention relates to improvements in key retainers, and particularly to a key retainer characterized by laterally spaced members between the opposite ends of which the keys are pivotally connected for normal positioning within the space between the side members, with individual spring retainers for the separate keys to hold them in position, the said retainers being selectively operable to release the keys individually to swing gravitationally into operative position, and the primary object of our inven tion is to provide a simple and efficient arrangement of this character which is susceptible of manufacture at low cost in an attractive form.

Other important objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the appended drawing, wherein for purposes of illustration we have shown a preferred embodiment of our invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of the embodiment.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through Figure 2 along the line 33 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 along the line 44 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 generally designates the elongated case which may be shaped similarly to a pocket knife, and comprise the elongated side plates 6 and I which are rounded on their ends and are spaced and connected by pairs of similar flanges 8 and 9 which project laterally inwardly as indicated in Figure 4 to abut their edges as indicated at H! over the upper edge of a longitudinal separator II which is cut out at its edge to receive the flanges 8 and 9 but is otherwise shaped similarly to the plates 6 and I. The flanges 8 and 9 at the opposite ends of the case extend longitudinally outwardly from the point [2 to the point [3, following the contour of the edge of the side plate, as indicated in Figure 3, enlargements I4 being provided on the flanges equipped with bores to receive assembling screws or rivets 15 which have their heads flush with the laterally outward sides of the plates 6 and 1, whereby the side plates 6 and 1 and the separator H, which are traversed by the said screws or bolts l5 are assembled in rigid relation. At the middle of the case is a stop l6 which extends through the separator H and through the side plates 6 and l'as indicated in Figure 4 and assumes the form of. a rounded rod or pin, acting as an abutment to "limit the laterally inward swinging of the keys to proper positions within the case as indicated in Figure 3.

Traversing the opposite ends of the case are screws I1 and I8, respectively, of the type or-' dinarily used in key. retainers and including heads l9 and 20 on the opposite ends of the removable sections of the screws, so that a purchase may be obtained on the sections to assemble and disassemble them to pass them pivotally and securably through the holes 2| in the keys 22, and to release them therefrom when removing the keys bodily from the case. As indicated in the drawing the case accepts in the manner described four keys, two on each side of the partition or separator II in overlapping relation and pivotally mounted at opposite ends of the case on the respective screws or bolts I1 and I8.

Tensioned spring retainers have operating.

heads 23 positioned flush with the outer surface of the side plates 1 within concavities 24 located in longitudinally spaced relation along the case, so that a finger may be used to press the retainer inwardly with reference to the concavity 24 so as to release the key related to the particular retainer and allow the key to fall gravitationally from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position exemplified in Figure 3. To restore the key to retention within the case it is only necessary to swing thesame from the position shown at the left hand side of Figure 3 to a position within the case, so that the related retainer may act to hold the key by bearing against the left hand side thereof, with reference to Figure 4 of the drawing, so as to press the opposite side of the key against the partition II or the inner side of the casing side member I, as the case may be.

Each tensioned spring retainer is characterized by a portion 25 riveted or otherwise suitably an-' chored as indicated by the numeral 26 to the lower edge portion of the casing side plate 6 or the lower edge portion of the partition or separator I I, as the case may be. Each retainer consists of a leg of spring wire which projects away from the anchor 26 to define a portion 21 laterally concavity 24. As indicated in Figure 4 the retainers which are located on the remote side of the partition H from the casing side plate 1 pass through accommodating openings 29 in the partition.

By reason of the arrangements described, the operator of the key retainer may, without looking at the retainer, select for use any particular key by pressing on the operating head 23 corresponding thereto, while holding the case in a position to allow the key to drop gravitationally when released by proper pressure on the head 23. This easy and simple operation eliminates the vari ous complications attending selection of keys from an ordinary key retainer which characterize the ordinary key retainer. One of the bolt heads 20 is enlarged and rounded as shown in Figure 2 to enable the operator to orientate the position of the various keys in the case entirely by the sense of touch and without looking at the retainer.

Although we have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of Our invention, it is to be definitely understood that we do not wish to limit the application of the invention thereto except as may be required by the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A key case having a pair of longitudinally extending chambers therein, means for pivoting keys in the ends of the chambers, said chambers adjacent one end of the case opening out through one side edge thereof and adjacent the other end of the case opening through the other side edge, and spring retainers for holding keys in the chambers, each retainer being of substantially L- shape and formed of a spring rod with one end fastened to a wall of a chamber where the chamber opens out through a side edge of the case with an intermediate portion of the retainer pressing against an adjacent key to hold the same in the case by friction, the free end of the retainer passing through a hole in an outer wall of the case, said wall having a recess in its outer face into which the said free end of the retainer extends and a head on said free end wholly located in the recess, said retainer being operable to release a key by pressing upon the head of the retainer and allowing said key to swing out of the case through said openings under the action of gravity, when a side edge with an opening therein is placed lowermost, the recesses for all the heads of the retainers being located in one side of the case and said side of the case having a projecting part for identifying such side.

FLOYD MACPHERSON. CARL G. GUNDERSON. 

